Lamp socket and mounting therefor



Sept 5 1933, w H. FABREY 11,925,439

' LAMP SOCKET AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Original Filed May 14, 1928 Eq'q Patented Sept. 5, 1933 our STATES;

LAMP SOCKET AND MOUNTING THEREFOR William H. Fabrey, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to Weber Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 14, .1928, Serial No. 277,518. Divided and this application July 30,- 1929. Serial No. 382,261 I I 14 Claims; (Cl. 173-358) The present invention relates to electric light fixtures, and more particularly to a device for mounting an electric lamp socket upon a wall,

ceiling or the like and to an improved socket.

intended for use with the mounting device.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 277,518, filed May 14, 1928.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved socket construction which may berigidly and permanentlysecured to the mounting device without the necessity for adjustment of the socket.

More particularly, the invention seeks to provide a socket shell construction formed for fixed, and preferably permanent, attachment tothe mounting device and which is formed so that the interior parts are releasably and detachably connectible with the shell whereby these parts may be removed from the mounting device although the shell is permanently attached thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for keyless sockets so that the interior parts may be releasably connected with the shell which is permanently secured to themounting device without the necessity for closing the top of the shell by means of a cap or any securing means upon the mounting.

I am aware that there have heretofore been developed mounting devices for sockets comprising an annulus having means, such as an upwardly projecting arm, adapted to extend over the socket to retain the interior parts therein or over a laterally extending portion of the socket such asthe chain exit. The present invention seeks to simplify devices of this character by forming the socket shell itself and the interior parts so that they are releasably connected and thus dispense with the necessity for employing a retaining means for the interior parts upon the mounting device proper.

-The invention comprises, broadly, an element such as an annulus, adapted to receive therein an electric lamp socket having a metallic shell with an intermediate shoulder which abuts the annulus so as to limit movement of the socket in one direction therethrough.

The socket shell is preferably formed with an out-struck shoulder adapted to prevent withdrawal of the shell from the annulus and thus permanently secure the shell to the annulus, which is formed with upstanding arms adapted to cooperate with corresponding arms upon a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to an outlet stud or the like. The invention also comprises means for automatically locking the annulus arms in adjusted position upon the bracket arms so that the socket and annulus quickly fixed in position.

may be These and otherieatures and-objects of the invention will become clearer as the description proceeds in connection with the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing,

wherein Y v v Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing the socket assembled with a mount-' ing device.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view. 7 1

Figure 3 is a plan view of the socket mounted in the supporting annulus, the arms of the bracket being shown in section. f

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the interior socket partly removed from the shell. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary. vertical sectional View taken through the socket shell, showing more clearly the retaining means for the interior socket parts, and l I Figure 6. is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the formation of the shell to retain the same against withdrawal from the annulus.

Referring to' the drawing for a'more detailed description, 10 indicatesa socket shell having the usual external threads 11,. and an intermediate shoulder 12, which, in the present instance, serves to support the shell upon an annulus l3 carried rigidly by a pair of arms 14, which have guide portions 15 slidably mounted on bracket arms 16, the arms 16 being secured, as by rivets 17,

to' a member having a central apertured portion l8-a'dapted to be threaded upon an outlet stud. Since thebracket member is shown in detail and described in my co-pending application, and forms no part of the present invention, further detailed description is thought unnecessary. It will be understood that the annulus 13 is adjustably mounted bymeans of the arms 14, and may be fixed-in any desired position along the arm 16 by means of the spring detents 19, which cooperate with shoulders 20 struck out from the arms 16.

The socket shell 10 has the usual intermediate shoulder 12 which rests upon the annulus around its central opening, and, beneath the annulus, portions of the shell are struck out to provide a plurality of out-struck shoulders 32 (Figure 1) which resist. movement of the shell upwardly in the annulus. Consequently, the circumferential shoulder 12 and the small out-struck shoulders 32-permanently secure the socket shell and an- A canopy'partly shown in broken lines (Figure 1) may be supported from the device by the clamping ring 35 threaded upon the socket shell and carrying a sleeve 36 of porcelain or other finishing or dielectric material. This ring serves to clamp the inturned flange 12 of the canopy against the under-face of the annulus 13 and thereby support the canopy from the bracket arms 16.

In order to complete the device, it is simply necessary to provide means for retaining the interior parts of the socket against movement in the socket shell. In devices of this nature which have heretofore been developed, it has been customary to form upon the annulus 13 a suitable means such as an upstanding arm to extend over the top of the shell or over a lateral projection from the interior parts, and thus dispense with the usual shell cap which is objectionable in a unit of this character.

The present invention seeks to simplify the construction of the mounting device by forming the socket shell so that it will serve to retain the parts therein and thus render unnecessary the provision of such means upon the mounting bracket.

Within the shell is arranged a liner of suitable insulating material and the interior parts or mechanism which include, as is customary, the threaded socket portion 46 and dielectric material 47. The parts 4'7 of dielectric material are received within the shell with suitable clearance to permit compression of the shell (Figure 3) and the shell and parts are formed with complemental portions which are adapted to releasably interconnect when the parts are inserted, whereby to resist a substantially upward movement or rotation of the interior parts. The shell has diametrically opposed in-struck portions 48 spaced downwardly from the upper edge 49 of the shell; these in-struck portions terminate in downwardly facing shoulders 50 and have lateral faces 51. To receive the in-struck portions 48 the dielectric material is formed with vertically disposed ribs 52, each rib having a longitudinally extending groove 53 terminating in a lower end wall 54. The interior parts are inserted in the shell with the grooves 53 aligned with the in-struck portions .51, and, to assist in obtaining this alignment, the shell has a plurality of spaced in-struck shoulders 55 facing one another circumferentially of the shell and disposed at opposite sides of the in-struck portions 51 above the latter. To obtain the proper alignment of the grooves 53 with the in-struck portions 51 it is simply necessary to insert the ribs 52 between the facing shoulders 55 and thereafter to press the parts downwardly. When the parts are inserted (Figure 1) the lower ends 50 of in-struck portions 51 will spring over the lower end wall of each groove 53 and thus resist upward movement of the parts within the shell. The in-struck portions being bodily positioned within the grooves 53 will resist rotation of the parts within the shell.- Rotation will also be prevented by the guiding shoulders 55 which are disposed, as illustrated in Figure 3, at opposite sides of the ribs 52. 1

To remove the parts from the shell it is simply necessary to compress the shell inwardly at points intermediate the complemental engaging parts 51, 53 above described. These points and the direction of compression are indicated by the arrows 5'7 in Figure 3. Compression of the shell as indicated by thearrows, which is facilitated by a slot 58 extending longitudinally thereof from its upper edge downwardly to a point adjacent the shoulder 12, will cause displacement outwardly from above walls 54 of the terminals or ends 50 of in-struck portions 48 on the shell and after this displacement the socket parts may be pressed upwardly and withdrawn from the shell.

Obviously, numerous modifications may be made in the structure described without departing from the invention which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electric light socket comprising a yieldable metallic shell having an in-struck shoulder facing toward the bulb receiving end thereof, an interior part of dielectric material formed with a portion complemental to said shoulder to resist movement of the parts longiti liually of the shell away from the bulb receiving end thereof, said shell receiving said with sufficient clearance whereby distortion. of the shell by manual compression disengages said shoulder and the complemental portion so that the interior part may be withdrawn.

An electric light socket comprising a resilient metallic shell havin an in-struck shoulder an interior part inclung dielectric material formed with a portion complemental to said shoulder to resist rotation or". the part in the shell or movement of the parts longitudinally of the shell away from the bulb receivingend thereof, said shell receiving said part with sumcient clearance whereby distortion of the shell by manual compression and movement of the instruck shoulder leaves the interior parts free for withdrawal from the shell.

3. An electric light socket comprising a metallic shell having an iii-struck shoulder facing longitudinally of the shell toward the re ceiving end thereof, two circumierentially facing in-struck shoulders at opposite sides or" said first mentioned shoulder, interior part formedwith complemental portions adapted to cooperaterz ith said in struck shoulders to resist movement of the part in the shell either rotatively or longitudinally oi the shell away the bulb receiving end thereof, said shell receiving said part with sufficient clearance whereby distortion of the shell by manual compression causes movement of the iii-struck shoulder whereby *a leave the interior part for withdrawal 1 the shell.

l. An electric light socket compi g a metallic shell having an ..-struck shoulder facing toward the bulb receiving end of the terior part having a groove adapted to receive said shell shoulder, whereby to resist rotative movement of the part in the shell, said groove having an end wall cooperating with said shoulder to resist movement of the part longitudinally of the shell away from bulb receiving end thereof, the shell receiving said part with sufficient clearance whereby distortion of the shell by manual compression and displacement of an iii-struck shoulder leaves the interior part free for withdrawal from. the shell.

5. An electric light socket compr sing a metallic shell having an iii-struck shoulder facing toward the bulb receiving end of the shell, and circumferentially facing i1 struck shoulders at opposite sides of said first oned shoulder, an interior part having a long :dinal rib formed with a groove adapted to receive said shell shoulder, whereby to resis rotative movement of the part in the shell, said groove having an end wall cooperating with said shoulder to resist movement of the part longitudinally of the shell away from the bulb receiving end thereof, said cir-.

cumferentially facing shoulders cooperating with opposite faces of said rib to guide the latter, the shell receiving said part with sufficient clearance whereby distortion of the shell by manual compression and displacement of an in-struck shoulder leaves the interior part free for withdrawal from the shell.

6. An electric light socket comprising a shell having an open top and interiorly thereof a pair of spaced circumferentially facing shoulders instruck therefrom and longitudinally facing inwardly projecting shoulders, and an interior part having a body provided with ribs adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders and to be held thereby against rotative movement, each of said ribs being provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulders, said grooves each being provided with a transverse wall adapted to abut said longitudinally facing shoulders and to resist longitudinal movement of the interior part in the shell.

'7. An electric light socket comprising a shell having an open top and interiorly thereof a pair of spaced oppositely and circumferentially facing shoulders inwardly projecting therefrom and longitudinally facing inwardly projecting shoulders and an interior bulb receiving part having a body provided with ribs adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders and to be held thereby against rotative movement, each of said ribs being provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulders, said grooveseach being provided with a transverse wall adapted to abut said longitudinally facing shoulders and to resist longitudinal movement of the interior part in the shell.

8. An electric light socket comprising a metallic shell having an open top and interiorly thereof a pair of spaced circumferentially facing shoulders in-struck therefrom and in a plane intermediate said shoulders and which extends therebetween, longitudinally facing in-struck shoulders, and an interior part having a body of dielectric material provided with ribs adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders and to be held thereby against rotative movement, each of said ribs being provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulders, said grooves each being provided with a transverse wall adapted to abut said longitudinally facing shoulders and to resist longitudinal movement of the interior part in the shell.

9. An electric light socket comprising a metallic shell having an open top and interiorly thereof a pair of spaced oppositely and circumferentially facing shoulders in-struck therefrom and in a plane intermediate said shoulders and which extends therebetween, longitudinally facing in-struck shoulders, and an interior bulb receiving part having a body of dielectric material provided with ribs adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders and to be held thereby against rotative movement, each of said ribs being provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulders, said grooves each being provided with a closing wall adapted to abut said longitudinally facing shoulders and to resist longitudinal movement of the interior part in the shell.

10. An electric light socket comprising a shell having a plurality of inwardly projecting circumferentially facing shoulders and a longitudinally facing inwardly projecting shoulder, and an interior part having a body provided with a rib adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders whereby the latter holds said body against rotative movement, said rib being provided with a groove extending substantially longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulder, said groove having a transverse wall to abut said shoulder and resist longitudinal movement of the body in the shell.

11. An electric light socket comprising a shell having a plurality of in-struck oppositely and circumferentially facing shoulders, a longitudinally facing in-struck shoulder, and an interior part having a body provided with a rib adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders whereby the latter holds said body against rotative movement, said rib being provided with a groove extending substantially longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulder, said groove having a transverse wall to abut said shoulder and resist longitudinal movement of the body in the shell.

12. An electric light socket comprising a metallic shell having a plurality of in-struck circumferentially facing shoulders and in a plane intermediate said shoulders, a longitudinally facing in-struck shoulder, and an interior part having a body of dielectric material provided with a rib adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders whereby the latter holds said body against rotative movement, said rib being provided with a groove extending substantially longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulder, said groove having a transverse wall to abut said shoulder and resist longitudinal movement ofthe body in the shell.

13. An electric light socket comprising a metallic shell having a plurality'of in-struck oppositely and circumferentially facing shoulders, and in a plane intermediate said shoulders a longitudinally facing in-struck shoulder, and an interior part having a body of dielectric mate'- rial provided with a rib adapted to fit between said circumferentially facing shoulders whereby the latter holds said body against rotative movement, said rib being provided with a groove extending substantially longitudinally of the shell and receiving said longitudinally facing shoulder, one end of said groove being closed whereby to abut said shoulder and resistlongitudinal movement of the body in the shell. I

14. An electric light socket comprising a shell having an open top, an interior part having a body of dielectric material insertable in said shell by longitudinal movement partially therethrough, and complemental means on said body WILLIAM H. FABREY. 

